Folding furniture



June 11, 1935. e. A. KNOTT FOLDING FURNITURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 25, 1935 l I I I G. A. KNOTT 2,004,896

FOLDING FURNITURE Filed March 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 him/Mp deafyeflfizoit,

June 11, 1935.

Patented June 11, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING FURNITUREGeorge Albert Knott, Washington, D. 0.

Application March 25, 1933, Serial No. 662,796

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in folding furniture and is moreparticularly concerned with an article which, when folded, resembles anormal high desk or cabinet, and which, when unfolded or open, presentsa table top with accompanying benches.

One of the features of the present invention is the provision of a fullyconnected structure, in which no parts are loose.

Another feature of the present invention is the connection of thebenches and table supports whereby a mutual bracing is effected.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a benchassembly-comprising two individual benches of standard height and whicheach contain folding structure and which together interfold with respectto the rest of the article, whereby the benches are brought intotelescoped position with respect to one another.

These and other features of the invention will appear in the course ofthe following specification, which describes an illustrative example ofpracticing the invention, as shown on the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is an upright longitudinal sectional view through the articleof furniture, with the table in open or unfolded position.

Figure 2 is a similar view, with the structures folded.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view substantially online 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a preferred table-stiffening member.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on line 5-5 ofFigure 1, showing the opened table in plan, with one bench in openedposition and the other bench in folded position.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the lower portion of the article offurniture, with the benches both in opened position.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the benches in nested position.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a top and panel brace and drawersupport.

In the drawings, the stationary portion of the article of furniture,which houses and encloses the foldable portions thereof, is shown in thedrawings to comprise the end walls i0, "la, the back wall I i, acounter-shelf l2, and an upper structure extending above. thecounter-shelf and having shelves such as l3 whereby this space may beemployed for the storage of dishes, etc., and to which access may begained through front doors II. The counter-space between thecounter-shelf l2 and the lowermost closet shelf i3 is accessible througha door l5 which is connected by a horizontal hinge l6 so that it may beopened similarly to the folding shelf of a desk and thus used (when theother parts of the structure are folded) as a desk, and may have forsuch use a folding link brace l5a.

In the lower portion of the stationary structure thus provided is abottom shelf l1 and a top shelf l8 which are spaced rearwardly from theplane of the front vertical edges l9 sufficiently for the reception ofthe panel support for the free end of the table, as will be describedhereinafter. A forwardly and upwardly inclined partition member connectsthese two lower shelves I1 and I8 and provides a pocket between itselfand the rear wall ll of the article of fumiture into which the endsection of the table may move during folding. The shelf l8 extends fromthe side wall M to the side wall Illa, while the shelf l'i terminatesshort of these side walls, for the reception of the legs of the benchesas will be seen from Fig. 5, and bracket end pieces 2i connect the shelfI! and the partition 20 to stiffen the shelf I1 and hold it in itspredetermined position. Guide rails 22 are fixed to the side walls i0,Illa and extend arcuately in extension of the rear surface of partition20 to a point below the front edge of the counter-shelf l2 (Figs. 1 and2), and are provided thereat with inwardly turned ends 22a to form tablestops.

The table top proper is comprised of three sections a, 30b, 300, whichare joined together by hinges 3| having their axes substantially in theplane of the bottom of the table top when unfolded or opened. Thus, inthe absence of any obstruction, the operation of pushing the tablesections toward the right in Fig. 1 will cause the end section 30c toslide over the upper surfaces of the rails 22, and if bending does notoccur by reason of the weight of the sections, the free end of the endsection 300 will encounter a breakdown wedge piece 32 which causes thesections to fold with respect to one another and thus move finally intothe position of Figure 2, in which the sections are located whollywithin the stationary structure.

In order to support the sections when opened, cross-ties 33 are providedfor extending across the hinge joints between the sections andpreventing a sinking of the sections under the load of dishes, etc., onthe table top. Such a crosstie is illustrated in Fig. 4 as comprising anarm portion for fitting against the lower surfaces of the correspondingsections, and provided with a stiffening rib 33d extending away fromsuch surfaces, as well as an eye 33b for receiving a screw 34 aboutwhich the cross-tie may swing and which itself is secured in a table topsection. Each of these ties may be moved until it is substantiallyparallel to the hinge lines between-the sections and lies wholly beneatha single section: and in such position it does not interfere with thefree folding of the structure, as described above. At the free end ofthe arm is provided a notch 33c which receives the thin stem 35a of ascrew member 35 having an enlarged head 35b, when in cross-tyingposition, as shown in Fig. 1, with the table unfolded. A tightcompression coil spring 33d may be located around the screw 34 to holdthe brace tight against the section, under friction, so that it does notswing during the folding of the table top sections.

The left-hand edge of the table top, as shown in Fig. 1, is supported bya frame structure which is illustrated in Fig. 6 as having the verticallegs 38, 38a at the corners, with cross-connecting pieces 39, 39a, 39b,and as a whole joined rigidly to the table top section 30a. by theemployment of angle braces 40 (Figs. 1 and 2). The

cross-piece 39a. is preferably located opposite the intermediate shelfl8 and a down-folding door 4m permits access through this front panel(when the table is closed) to the space above shelf l8 which may be shutoff at the back, if desired, by a partition wall as shown by dottedlines I80. in Fig. 2.

The upper cross-piece 39 is provided with an aperture for the receptionof a drawer 4| which is supported by guides 40a joined to the crosspiece39 and to the table top section 30a (Figs. 1 and 2). A guide 40a and anangle brace 40 may be formed as a composite structure (Fig. 8).

In the illustrated form, the invention is shown as employable as abreakfast table and bench assembly. Two benches A and B are provided forthis purpose, each being capable of arrangement along one side of thetable. Each of these benches is foldable beneath the table, as a firststep, and then into the stationary cabinet structure as a second step.For this purpose, each bench comprises end leg structures 45, 45a. Inthe illustrated form, the leg structures 45 are located at the ends ofthe top or seat boards, while the leg structures 45a are spacedtherefrom by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the legstructure 45 of the other bench. The leg structures 45 are joined at onevertical edge by hinges 45 to the adjacent vertical edge of the frontleg structures 38, 38a of the front panel.

Each bench also includes a top or seat board section 41 which is fixedlyconnected to the leg structures, and a movable top or seat board section48 which is connected with the fixed seat board section 41 by hingemeans 49 which preferably are located wholly below the seat surfaceswhen the benches are unfolded. It will be noted that the movable board48 in each bench may be folded over flat upon the fixed board 41thereof, and thereafter the two benches may be folded together into the"nested position shown in Fig. 7. The leg sections 45, 45a of the twobenches are of the same height, and by reason of the individual foldingof the seat boards of the benches, the fixed boards 41 come to lie in acommon plane, while the movable boards 48 also lie in a common plane. Ifdesired, reinforcing members 50 may be used' to connect the legs 45, 45aof the individual benches; each member 50 being connected to the legsadjacent the fixed board 41 thereof, to

.avoid interference with the nesting.

When the benches are folded together and the .front panel pushed backinto its closed position,

pies very little space in extension away from the wall of the room.

When it is desired to unfold or open the table, the upper portions ofthe front panel, as shown in Fig. 6, may be pulled out, as by employinghand grips 3871. and drawing the table top sections in succession fromthe space within the cabinet or stationary portion of the article offurniture. This causes a separation of the front panel from thestationary structure, and the benches are carried therewith while stilloccupying the position shown in dotted lines for the bench A in Fig. 5.Ultimately the stop pins 52 on the last table section 300 engage withthe stop ends 22a of the guide rail 22 and limit the table top in itsmove ment, and prevent an entire separation from the stationary portionof the article of furniture. The attendant can now swing the cross-ties33 across the lines of separation of the successive table top sectionsand secure these cross-ties on the screws 35. The bench B can then beopened by swing-' ing it in a clockwise direction about its verticalaxis (as seen in Fig. 5), and the movable seat board thereof swungaround, so that ultimately the bench B is in the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 5. Similarly, the bench A may likewise be swung, by acorresponding counterclockwise movement, about its hinges 45 and itsseat board swung to the final opened position.

If desired, casters may be provided beneath the panel and bench legs tofacilitate the sliding and swinging of these parts.

The structure is light, occupies little space when folded, and is stiifwhen in position for service. In particular, it will be noted that thepanel forming the support for the left-hand end of the table top, inFig. 1, is itself stifiened and supported by the bench structures ateach side, and that these bench structures are similarly braced andsupported by the aforesaid end panel. The entire table and benchassembly is located below the counter-shelf l2, so that the assembly isadapted for incorporation in articles of furniture of various'types anddesigns; and it is unnecese sary to disturb objects located on the shelfI! while opening or closing the table.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited solely to the form ofconstruction shown, but that it may be modified in many ways within thescope of the appended claims.

' Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An article of furniture. including astationary support and casingstructure having a front opening, a sectional table top collapsible intosaid structure upon a substantially horizontal movement of the freeedge, supporting means rigidly secured to the free edge of the tabletop, a bench, and a vertical pivot connecting said bench to saidsupporting means for movement of the bench from and to a positionbeneath said top when the top is in extended position, said table andbench being movable into said opening, said supporting means including apanel for closing said opening and concealing said bench when the tabletop is collapsed.

2. An article of furniture including a stationary support and easingstructure having an open front, a sectional table top collapsible intosaid structure, supporting means for the free edge of the table top andconstituting when said top is within the structure a front panel forsaid structure, and a bench pivoted to said supporting means formovement to and from a position beneath said top when the top is inextended position.

3. An article of furniture including a stationary support and casingstructure having an open front, a sectional table top collapsible intosaid structure, supporting means for the free edge of the table top, anda pair of benches having independent horizontally spaced pivotconnections to said supporting means for movement to and from a nestedposition beneath said top.

4. An article of furniture including a stationary support and casingstructure having an open front, a table top comprising a plurality ofhingedly connected sections, guides in said structure supporting saidtop whereby the top may be collapsed through said open front into saidstructure by folding about the hinge connections, a front panel rigidlysecured to the free edge of the table top for movement with the tabletop during its collapsing and extension, cross-tying devices forconnecting and reinforcing said sections when the top is in openposition, and a bench having spaced legs and movably connected to saidpanel for stiffening the same and movable therewith as the table top iscollapsed and extended, said panel being eifective when the top iscollapsed for closing the open front and concealing said devices, guidesand bench.

5. An article of furniture including a stationary support and casingstructure having an open front, a sectional table top collapsible intosaid structure, a front panel for said structure connected to said tabletop for supporting the same, and benches pivoted to said panel formovement to and from nested position when the top is in extendedposition.

6. An article of furniture including a support member, and a pair ofbenches connected to said support at spaced vertical pivots, saidbenches having leg portions of the same height and each having a seatboard portion fi'xed to its said legs, and also having a movable seatboard portion hinged for swinging movement onto the corresponding fixedseat board portion, whereby the benches may be nested in a space havinghorizontal dimensions substantially equal to the length and width of thetop of one bench when in position for occupancy.

7. An article as in claim 6, including a stationary support and easingstructure having a front opening, and a sectional table top movable intoand out of said opening near the top thereof, in which the said supportmember forms a closing panel for said opening and a support for the freeedge of the top, so that the movement of said support member intostructure-closing position causes a collapsing of the top into saidstructure, and said nested benches are moved into said front opening.

8. An article of furniture including a stationary tical pivot connectingsaid bench to said support-= ing means whereby it may be moved from andto a position beneath said table when the table top is extended, a shelfin said structure above the level of said bench and below the level ofsaid table top when extended, means on said structure for guiding thetable top during collapsing so.

that the top is moved into the front opening above said shelf and thebench into the opening below the shelf, said panel operating in thecollapsed position of the table top to close at least the portion ofsaid front opening above said shelf, and a movable section included insaid panel to afford access to the space above the shelf when the tabletop is in collapsed position.

9. An article of furniture including a stationary support and casingstructure having a front opening, a sectional table top collapsible intosaid opening of said structure, a panel supporting the free edge of thetable top and movable therewith in its collapsing and extendingmovements and closing said opening, a bench, a vertical pivot connectingsaid bench to said panel whereby it may be moved to and from a positionbeneath said table when the table top is extended, a shelf in saidstructure above the level of said bench and below the level of saidtable top when extended, and means supported by said panel for closingthe space above said shelf and permitting access thereto when said tabletop and panel are in collapsed position.

10. An article of furniture including a stationary support and easingstructure having a front opening, a sectional table top collapsible intosaid opening of said structure upon a substantially horizontal movementof the free edge of said top, supporting means rigidly fixed to the freeedge of the table top and movable horizontally therewith in itscollapsing and extending movements and including a panel extendingdownwardly from the top to cover at least a part of the front opening, abench pivoted to said supporting means for movement from and to aposition beneath said top when the top is extended and collapsing withsaid top into said structure, and a drawer movable into and out of saidpanel portion, means supporting said drawer fixed to said panel and theadjacent portion of the table top to stiffen the same and movabletherewith in the collapsing and extending movements, said drawer beingpositioned within said structure above said bench when the top iscollapsed and accessible at all times whether the top is extended orcollapsed.

11. An article of furniture including a stationary support and easingstructure having a front opening, a sectional table top comprising aplurality of connected sections collapsible into said opening of saidstructure upon sliding movement of the free edge of the topsubstantially in the direction of the plane of the top, supporting meansfor the free edge of the table top when extended and rigidly secured tosaid top for movement therewith toward and from said structure andincluding a panel portion, a bench having a length substantially equalto the length of the free edge of the table top and pivoted to saidsupporting means for movement of the bench to and from a positionsubstantially at a right angle to said free edge in which it operates toreinforce said supporting means and from and to a position beneath saidtopand parallel to said free edge when the top is extended, said benchwhen in said parallel position being'slidable with the supporting meansinto collapsed position in said front opening in said structure, thepanel portion operating to conceal the bench when in said structure.

12. An article of furniture as in claim 11, in which the first saidsupporting means includes a panel for substantially closing the frontopening and operative to conceal the bench when the top is collapsedinto the structure.

13. An article of furniture including a stationary support and casingstructure having an open front, a sectional table top collapsible intosaid structure, means providing a panel for said opening connected tosaid table top and supporting the same when in extended position, and apair of benches pivoted to said panel for movement from and to nestedposition when the top is in extended position and occupying in nestedposition a space having horizontal dimensions substantially equal to thelength and width of the top of one bench, when in position foroccupancy.

14. An article of furniture including a stationary support and easingstructure having a fixed supporting surface and a front openingimmediately below said surface, a sectional table top collapsiblethrough said opening into said structure and including a plurality ofsections, hinge connections between the sections about which thesuccessivesections fold downwardly while being returned into thestructure, means rigidly connected to the said section which presentsthe free edge of the table top when extended and supporting the samewhen extended, guides in said structure engaged by and bringing thesuccessive other sections upward and into alignment with the said freeedge section while being withdrawn from the structure into extendedposition, said supporting means including a panel portion for closingsaid front opening and concealing said other sections when in collapsedposition, said fixed surface being accessible whether the table sectionsare in extended or collapsed condition and stiffening means pivotally,connected to the hinged sections and cooperative therebetween to supportthe table top when extended.

GEORGE ALBERT KNOTT.

